We’ve all heard the hype: AI will save you time, boost productivity, and help you get more done. But that’s only scratching the surface. In this episode, Pedro Ruiz and I talk about AI as something bigger, a tool for exploration, creativity, and human connection.

Instead of chasing quick wins, we look at what happens when you approach AI with a sense of play. What if you asked it about something you know nothing about? What if you used it to test an idea you’ve never dared to try? You’ll hear stories of everyday experiments, from writing poems to solving real-world problems, and why these “small wins” often open the door to bigger breakthroughs.

We also break down one of the most common points of confusion: the difference between automation and AI. Automation follows rules you set in advance. AI can adapt and respond to new information. Both are powerful, but knowing when to use each is the real game-changer.

Along the way, we talk about why curiosity is becoming one of the most valuable skills you can have, not just for work, but for life. We explore how upbringing, access to resources, and even cultural attitudes shape our relationship to technology. And we discuss the importance of keeping a human perspective in the loop, questioning the answers AI gives you instead of taking them at face value.

By the end, you’ll see AI in a different light, not as a cold, technical system, but as a creative partner that can help you think bigger, learn faster, and see possibilities you might have missed.

If you’ve been stuck in “productivity mode” with AI, this episode will help you break out of it and start exploring what’s truly possible.

In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with Gavin Nicol, a seasoned technologist and entrepreneur whose fingerprints are all over the early internet standards we still use today. With over three decades of startup experience under his belt, Gavin doesn’t just know what it takes to build and scale a business, he knows what it costs.

We start by digging into the hard truths about the startup journey. The excitement of going from 10 customers to 100 sounds thrilling on paper, but Gavin walks us through why that leap often breaks companies. He dismantles the romanticism of startup culture and puts the spotlight on the unglamorous, exhausting, but necessary grind that underpins real growth.

If you’ve ever thought about quitting your 9-to-5 or taking your side hustle full-time, Gavin offers perspective that’s both sobering and empowering. He breaks down the three kinds of people in the workforce, career employees, startup joiners, and entrepreneurs, and challenges listeners to figure out which one they really are. His advice? Try a small company once. You might never go back to corporate life again.

But this isn’t just a motivational pep talk. Gavin brings nuance to the conversation, exploring what it truly means to build something from the ground up. He draws attention to the growing trend of “boring” businesses, laundromats, plumbing services, small logistics companies, that are quietly changing hands as older owners retire. These businesses aren’t flashy, but they’re profitable. And unlike raising venture capital for a flashy tech play, they’re often self-sustaining.

We also get into the topic of education and whether a university degree is still necessary in today’s economy. Gavin makes a case for alternative paths and shares his own unconventional route through Japan’s tech scene, startups, and angel investing. His message is clear: you don’t need permission or a degree to build something valuable.

From there, we dive into the investor mindset. Gavin unpacks what he looks for as an angel investor and why so many founders, especially in the tech space, fail before they even begin. It’s not about having a groundbreaking idea. It’s about having a clear plan, the grit to see it through, and the self-awareness to know when you’re not cut out for it.

We also cover:

* The worst mistake most first-time founders make when raising VC money

* Why many startup ideas that use AI aren’t nearly as innovative as they seem

* The hidden value in buying existing businesses instead of starting from scratch

* How serving others can change the way you think about your own work

* Why sales, customer support, and folding t-shirts all teach lessons worth learning

This conversation doesn’t offer quick wins or viral success stories. Instead, it gives you a look behind the curtain at what real startup life is like, the stress, the strategy, and the soul-searching required to make it work. Gavin’s honest, no-nonsense take is something every aspiring founder or curious employee needs to hear.

If you’re debating whether to leap into entrepreneurship, or you're just trying to figure out your next step, this episode might give you the clarity you've been looking for.

Carolyn Johnson didn’t start out as a writer. She was a teacher. A reader. Someone with a knitting machine she didn’t really use.

And then she made a decision.

In this episode, we talk about what it actually takes to write and self-publish a book, from ZERO! No contacts. No roadmap. Just the desire to start.

Carolyn walks us through how she went from unfinished drafts and long summer breaks to releasing Adam and the Witch Queen and how the act of finishing that book made her revisit an older, messier manuscript with fresh eyes and sharper tools.

She shares:

* How she moved past the blank page and into a real writing routine

* Why she decided to self-publish and what she learned along the way

* The unexpected ways her readers and stories are now connecting

* What she's doing next (and how one story plants the seed for another)

This is a conversation about writing. But more than that, it's about fear, creative resistance, and the quiet discipline of showing up, even when you don't know where the road leads.

In this episode, I sit down with Julio Arango, a creative entrepreneur with a fascinating journey from a corporate career to building his own business. Julio shares his insights on the importance of adaptation, the courage it takes to leave a stable job, and the role of fear in driving success.

We dive into how Julio leveraged AI to streamline his new venture and why consistency in branding can be more important than perfection. He also opens up about his unexpected experiences, like finding a hidden talent for public speaking through tour guiding and how these skills later translated into teaching AI workshops.

Throughout our conversation, Julio offers a candid look at the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, the sacrifices made along the way, and the invaluable lessons learned from his diverse career path.

If you're curious about how to turn fear into fuel, or if you’re intrigued by the intersections of creativity, technology, and business, this episode is for you. Listen in to find out why sometimes, taking the plunge into the unknown is the best decision you can make.

In this episode of "Learn, Apply, Repeat," I delve into the intricacies of time management, sharing personal anecdotes and actionable strategies. Starting from my early days as an IT technician in São Paulo, Brazil, I describe my journey from struggling with time management to mastering it with data-driven methods. I discuss the Pomodoro Technique, the use of apps like Toggl and RescueTime, and the importance of tracking and analyzing time usage. By understanding where time is spent, you can identify distractions and reallocate your time more productively. This episode is packed with practical tips for anyone looking to enhance their time management skills and boost their productivity.

In the first episode of my new "Walking with Giants" series on the "Learn, Apply, Repeat" podcast, I interview individuals who have significantly impacted my professional journey. To kick off this series, I chat with my former boss and current friend, Imre Nagy. Imre, the head of engineering at a UK-based company and an avid YouTuber, shares insights from his diverse career.

During our conversation, Imre discusses his transition from being a passionate coder to taking on a managerial role, highlighting the challenges and rewards of each step. He also reflects on his time in the Hungarian military and how it shaped his leadership philosophy. Additionally, Imre talks about his popular YouTube channel dedicated to retro computing, revealing the inspiration behind it and his love for vintage technology.

Welcome back to the "Learn, Apply, Repeat" podcast, where we dive into the tools and strategies that can transform our learning experiences and performance. Today, I'm excited to share a personal journey that changed the way I handle information—mastering memory techniques.

As someone who struggled with memorization during my academic years, the concept of memory always posed a challenge. From the endless lists of vocabulary in language classes to the complex biological terms in my later studies, the traditional methods of rote learning never seemed to work for me.

This all changed when I stumbled upon a performance by Darren Brown, who introduced me to the concept of the memory palace. This method, along with techniques from memory champions like Dominic O'Brien, transformed my approach to learning. O'Brien's linking method and his Dominic system, which uses visual and associative techniques to memorize sequences, opened new doors for me.

These techniques not only improved my memory but also boosted my confidence. They were particularly helpful as I transitioned from biology to web development, allowing me to quickly grasp new programming languages and concepts.

In this episode, I share these transformative strategies and their impact on both personal and professional aspects of my life. Whether you struggle with memory or just want to enhance your learning skills, diving into these techniques can offer significant benefits.

For anyone interested in exploring this further, I recommend starting with Darren Brown's work or picking up books by memory champions. Remember, like any skill, improving your memory requires practice and persistence.

Stay tuned for more insights and tips on how to leverage what you learn to make real changes in your life. Until next time, keep learning, applying, and repeating!

In the first episode, I talk a little about my myself, what made me create this podcast, and what I have planned for the next episodes.